On Thursday, March 30, 2017 at approximately 12:35 P.M. Jasper County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a serious injury traffic crash on US 24 at the I-65 interchange involving a passenger vehicle and a semi-tractor trailer. Responding to the scene were units from Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, Remington Fire/Rescue, and Remington Ambulance.

Upon arrival of emergency responders a passenger car was found impacted under a semi-trailer on the overpass of US 24 at the northbound entrance ramp onto I-65. The single occupant of the passenger car was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extracted by Remington Fire/Recue units.

Investigation by Jasper County Sheriffs’ Deputies revealed a black 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix was traveling westbound on US 24 being operated by Denise Pickens, age 54 of Wolcott, Indiana. As the black Pontiac approached the I-65 overpass on US 24 an eastbound 2014 International semi-tractor trailer being operated by Jason Knox, age 55 of Long Beach, California was making a northbound turn onto the entrance ramp.

The semi-trailer was still in the westbound lane of US 24 when the Pickens’ vehicle impacted with the semi-trailer coming to rest against the rear trailer tandem axles. Pickens was extracted and received medical attention by paramedics and EMS personnel which proved to be unsuccessful with Denise Pickens being pronounced dead at the scene. Jasper County Coroner arrived on scene and took possession of Ms. Pickens’ remains.

The overpass and ramp were closed to traffic for approximately three hours while the on scene investigation was conducted. The investigation continues by Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and Jasper County Coroner’s Office.